Date: Wed, 11 May 2016 15:50:08 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Pending clutch replacement
In-Reply-To: <CE80C7C8-AA1F-4725-8BC3-FAEAEBA1C43E@NBNet.nb.ca>
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On the Vanagon clutch replacement is usually done by removing the transmission. Shudders or chatters can be caused by contamination of the friction surface or pressure plate/flywheel. Since the vehicle was sitting this could include rusting. Rusting will usually wear off. Since it is a morning thing I would also be looking for fluid leaks and operation of the clutch hydraulics.
Clutch chatter could also be caused by other things including worn transmission parts, pilot bearing, release bearing of the clutch operating arm having bad bushings or being worn flat where it contacts the back of the release bearing. Check that your choice of shop can handle any of these scenarios so you don't end up paying for trans removal twice.
For a basic clutch job you should be looking at about 5.5 to 6.0 hours labor plus extras such as flywheel, crank seal, and those clutch shaft and operating parts repair.
Most of the true Sachs clutches come from Mexico. The China brand clutches are bad news. I prefer the Luks myself. Success will be the details and choice of parts especially seals and the felt ring for the input shaft-pilot bearing.
Dennis
> Date: Wed, 11 May 2016 13:58:12 -0300
> From: RNicholl@NBNET.NB.CA
> Subject: Pending clutch replacement
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
> When I pulled the Hyena (’88 Westy WBX) out of storage last Saturday, I felt what I though might have been a little clutch shudder on the way home. I experienced a shudder twice more this week - first thing in the morning after the Hyena had been sitting all night.
>
> The van has ~@235K on the clock and, as far as I can tell from the records I inherited, the clutch has never been replaced. I’m guessing the actual clutch replacement is similar to my ’66 Westy, but the disconnecting and reconnecting of the engine’s “tethers” is a much more involved.
>
> Given my work schedule over the next month, I’m going to have to pay to have this done if I plan on being able to take the boy camping this summer - he’s been playing in the Hyena every day since it came home - and that likely won’t be cheap. If I’m going to shell out a very wince-able amount of cash to have the old, snarly-but-good, local guy swap the clutch, I may as well use the opportunity to upgrade to a clutch that will (should?) last longer.
>
> I looked at an OEM (Sachs) clutch kit last autumn - because it was for sale locally - but it was stamped as made in China (not Germany). I know parts quality coming out of China can be hit or miss, are the Chinese Sachs bits of the same calibre as those made at home (Germany)? I have yet to find a Canadian supplier of the Luks clutch kit {I’ve read there are two Luk clutches - a “regular” one and a “heavier" one intended for syncros?} or a Kennedy replacement clutch.
>
> Are there other candidates I should consider?
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